Method and apparatus are provided for authenticating a user. The method includes detecting a path of a finger movement of the user across a sensing surface, collecting a plurality of fingerprint images of the finger along the path of the finger movement, collecting a plurality of time stamps corresponding to the plurality of fingerprint images at different locations along the path, comparing the path of the finger movement to a previously enrolled path of finger movement using the plurality of fingerprint images and the plurality of time stamps corresponding to the plurality of fingerprint images collected, and authenticating the user based on the comparison.